Saintayme - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2022

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Plenty of depth on the nose here, not easy in a vintage where alcohols run high, that can cut off aromatics and terroir expression. Enjoyable, reserved, great quality, love the limestone scrap, plenty of character, touch of floral notes that underline a rise through the palate. Takes its time. 30% new oak, harvest September 17 to October 3. Tasted twice.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Saintayme

Vinous

90

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Saintayme conveys a sense of joy on the nose, with finely delineated vivacious black cherries, wild strawberry and a hint of cola. The medium-bodied palate is well balanced and quite elegant in style, with more black than red fruit, grainy tannins and a touch of white pepper on the finish. It feels malleable in the mouth and will drink slightly earlier than I expected out of barrel.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

This is a solid and structured Saintayme, with lots of terracotta and dark fruits on the nose and palate. It's medium- to full-bodied with a fine, chewy tannin backbone and a flavorful finish. Impressive. Pure merlot. Drink after 2028.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Saintayme is a rich, heady Saint-Émilion. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, apricot, spice, new leather and a kiss of French oak saturate the palate. Plush contours wrap it all together, adding to a feeling of sensuality. A decidedly opulent, flashy Saint-Émilion, Saintayme has a ton of tannin, but it's nearly buried by the sheer luxuriousness of the fruit.

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Fresh and fruity aromas on the nose, bright and lively. Sharp with high acidity at the fore - just the right side of sour, with lively strawberry and red cherry flavours. Lovely powdery tannins have a nice expansive texture but also keep definition and a sense of gentle grip all the way through. On the more linear side now, strict and focussed with lovely fruit purity and such overall charm. Really quite approachable with tang and definition and still some power underneath that extends into a long, mineral finish. Feels a touch high alcohol on the finish but there’s a lot to like here. Ageing in 30% new oak. Harvest 17 September - 3 October.

Vinous

89-91

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Saintayme was picked from 17 September to 3 October and matured in 30% new oak. It gushes with quite intense red cherries, kirsch and orange pith scents, lovely definition, simple in a positive sense. The palate is medium-bodied with darker fruit than the nose suggest, quite saline with a black pepper-tinged finish. Enjoy this over the next decade.

The Vintage Journal

90-91

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep crimson. Perfumed musky chinotto, plum with herb thyme notes. Fresh bitter sweet, musky plum, black cherry fruits, fine bitter/ graphite/ chewy tannins and underlying savoury notes. Brambly finish. 100% Merlot 14.4% alc

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Intense muscular contraction to the tannins on the opening beats, the fruit gets creamy as it opens, with vivid raspberry reflections and plenty of mouthwating salinity. This is a pretty serious Saintayme, great quality and great value. Olivier Gautrat alongside Noémie Durantou. Harvest September 17 to October 3 (extremely late for the vintage, because cool clays in a cooler part of St Etienne de Lisse, something you also see in the generous 50hl/h yields), 30% new oak.

matthewjukes.com

17

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 Saintayme is 100% Merlot and has a deep garnet-purple color. It bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of blackberry preserves, juicy black cherries, and chocolate mint, leading to wafts of black pepper, tar, and clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of exuberant black fruits, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a real skip in its step.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-95

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Saintayme se projette comme à son habitude, soit avec précision et intensité. Il a beaucoup d'éclat, de profondeur, de concentration et de puissance. Dès l'attaque le vin brille de son énergie, de sa pertinence et de son aptitude à créer le lien entre la puissance tannique et la vivacité de l'acidité. Il en résulte un vin exceptionnel qui souligne la grandeur du millésime. Quelle belle réussite !

Jeb DUNNUCK

90-92

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

All Merlot from a mix of terroirs, the 2022 Saintayme has impressive darker cherry and blackberry-like fruit as well as medium to full body, a terrific chalky mineral character, ripe yet firmer tannins, and outstanding length.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Saintayme is bright, floral and vibrant in this vintage, almost surprisingly so. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, chalk, mint and white pepper all run through this taut, nervy Saint-Émilion. All the elements are so well balanced. I especially admire the wine's persistence and inner perfume. Terrific. Drinking window : 2026-2037

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Black cherries, and flowers, with licorice and cocoa nuances are found on the nose, and palate. Medium-bodied, with a core of lusciously-textured, plums and chocolate, here, the vibrancy and elegance in the fruits really stand out, giving you a nice freshness to the sweet fruits from the mid-palate through to the finish. This will be ready-to-go on release. Made from 100% Merlot, 14.4% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2025-2038.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

So much sea salt and crunchy fruit with berry and grape character. Some orange, too. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. Lively finish.